Could plants be the answer to a good night's sleep?

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Could plants be the answer to a good night's sleep?

We all know that 7-9 hours of quality sleep is important. At Simba, we’re always in pursuit of the best night’s sleep, which is why we spend months prototyping and engineering sleep technology. But we don't overlook the more natural remedies available, so we’ve rounded up the best sleep aids straight from Mother Nature herself for your bedside table.

Plus, for a limited time we've partnered with urban gardening gurus Patch to offer you a chance to win your own sleep sanctuary: our Hybrid®Mattress designed to suit every sleeping style along with a £600 spending spree at Patch to fill your space with soothing shrubs. Read on to find out more...

Aloe Vera

A recent study conducted by NASA looking at the air purifying properties of plants discovered they also lead to healthier sleeping patterns. Aloe Vera was listed as one of the most effective air-purifying plants. As the sun goes down, the plant begins emitting oxygen - the more oxygen in the air, the easier time you’ll have drifting off. This has increased benefits for those suffering with sleep conditions such as sleep apnea. An extra benefit of owning aloe vera is its juice which relieves pain from minor burns when applied topically.

Don’t have green fingers? Aloe Vera is a low maintenance and hardy plant.

Jasmine

A recent study by Raudenbush et al, at the Wheeling Jesuit University found that jasmine was incredibly effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels, which allows for a better night’s sleep with reduced movement during the night. The participants studied were also recorded as having increased cognitive function. For a dose of your own naturally occurring alertness at work, opt for the Jasminum polyanthum variety which is said to get more fragrant at night.

Lavender

Lavender (also known as Lavandula angustifolia) is perhaps most closely associated with sleep and relaxation. During the middle ages, it was toted as an aphrodisiac and in the 17th-century cited as a plant good for “all the griefs and pains of the head and brain”. We now know that lavender can increase slow-wave sleep, a deep sleep in which the muscles relax and the heartbeat slows. It is during this sleep phase that the brain is said to organise memory. Studies have also shown that babies who sleep with lavender in the room cry less at night.

If you suffer with anxiety, rub the leaves and flowers between your fingertips and massage onto your temples.

Japanese Peace Lily

Not just beautiful to look at, NASA found that the Japanese Peace Lily will rid your house of harmful toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. It can also increase the moisture in the air of a room by 5%. Better humidity levels help suppress airborne bacteria and microbes which, if let loose, can cause allergies keeping you awake.

Keep in a nice shady place (out of the reach of pets and children) and water weekly.

Gardenia

If you suffer with insomnia then gardenia is the plant for you. It is so effective at aiding sleep that it is often compared to valium. Instead of taking pills to combat sleep deprivation, gardenia is a natural replacement that is significantly healthier for you. The plant has to be kept in a bright room and does have to be carefully tended.

And now you have a chance to win your very own urban jungle. Click below to enter our competition and you could win your own outstandingly comfortable Hybrid Mattress and an amazing £600 to spend on Patch plants to transform your living and sleeping spaces.

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